Sony
Sony WH-1000XM6
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Released 2025-05
Best Over Ear Headphones · head-to-head
Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Sony WH-1000XM6 is cheaper at —. Every spec and price links to its source.
Audio-Technica
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2
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Released 2022-04
Which is better: the Sony WH-1000XM6 or Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2?
The Sony WH-1000XM6 wins 1 of the 1 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0.
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Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Sony WH-1000XM6 | Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 |
|---|---|---|
| US price | — | — |
| Brand | Sony | Audio-Technica |
| Released | 2025-05 | 2022-04 |
| ANC | Yes | No |
| Driver (mm) | 30 | — |
| Battery hr | 30 | 64 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Wired option | Yes | Yes |
| Weight (g) | 254 | 307 |
| Release | 2025-05 | 2022-04 |
Sources — Sony WH-1000XM6: headphonecheck.com (verified 2026-06-15). Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2: headphonecheck.com (verified 2026-06-15).
What's the difference between the Sony WH-1000XM6 and Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (5 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
- ANC: Sony WH-1000XM6 true vs Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 false
- Battery hr: Sony WH-1000XM6 30 vs Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 64
- Bluetooth: Sony WH-1000XM6 5.3 vs Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 5.0
- Codecs: Sony WH-1000XM6 SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 vs Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 SBC, AAC, LDAC
- Weight (g): Sony WH-1000XM6 254 vs Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 307
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Sony WH-1000XM6
Three whitelisted testers (SoundGuys, What Hi-Fi, Tom's Guide) rate the WH-1000XM6 a strong flagship. SoundGuys (5-day test) logged 37 hours 14 minutes of battery with ANC and a 4.8/5 MDAQS score, praising excellent ANC, sound and microphone but flagging thin pads and no USB-C audio. What Hi-Fi (Awards 2025 winner, five stars) calls it the best-sounding Sony flagship with class-leading calls and rates comfort a full 5/5. Tom's Guide's 3-months-later follow-up is the outlier, judging the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3 better-sounding and the Bose QC Ultra better at blocking noise, and calling the build cheap-feeling for $449. Reviewers split on comfort, value and how much the XM6 improves on the XM5. (3 sourced reviews, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Excellent, refined active noise cancellation; Best-sounding Sony WH-1000X flagship to date; Class-leading call/microphone quality.
Flagged: Comfort compromises: thin pads, ANC mic can rub the ear, headband pressure point; No USB-C audio / lack of cutting-edge connectivity; ANC gains over the XM5 feel marginal; Bose still blocks more noise (Tom's Guide).
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2
Three whitelisted outlets recommend the ATH-M50xBT2 as a strong no-ANC pick. Only SoundGuys published measurements: 64 hours 51 minutes of battery at 75dB(SPL) and an Isolation / Attenuation sub-score of 3.4. What Hi-Fi and MusicRadar are listening-based reviews with no published measurements, and both praise the sound, build and value. Note the age spread: What Hi-Fi's review dates from October 2021 and MusicRadar's from August 2023, so only the SoundGuys page has been revised recently. The panel splits on isolation, on comfort, and on how heavy the bass is. (3 sourced reviews, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Sound quality is balanced and powerful enough for both studio monitoring and casual listening; Good value at the price; Long battery life — SoundGuys measured 64 hours 51 minutes, MusicRadar lists improved battery life as a pro.
Flagged: No active noise cancellation; Bass can feel heavy or thick — before run-in and over the cable per What Hi-Fi, "a bit too much" at times per MusicRadar; Wired mode is a pass-through that bypasses the onboard electronics, so EQ and the ear-cup controls do not work passively.